Dr. Pepper Ravens: Special Bottles For Ravens Kicker

Dr. Pepper has given Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker a free gift of specials bottles after making six field goals. Tucker is going to have to make some room in his refrigerator after a great performance against the Detroit Lions.

The field goal kicker received a special gift basket of Dr. Pepper in recognition of each of the field goals Tucker hit against Detroit. Because the PR people at Dr. Pepper are clever, Tucker was sent a different size container for each field goal he hit. Tucker hit field goals from 24, 29, 32, 49, 53 and 61 yards in the game.

The undrafted opera- and hip-hop-singing kicker is confident that given the right field and weather conditions, he is capable of trumping Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater’s 64-yarder hit Dec. 8 against the Tennessee Titans as the longest in league history.

“If I pulled out the 8-degree driver — on a day when I’m feeling real fresh — I could probably hit one from 70 yards,” Tucker told USA TODAY Sports. “I hit one from 70 yards in pregame in Detroit this past Monday night.”

What is the former University of Texas standout’s longest shot?

“In practice I’ve hit from 79 yards,” Tucker said. “That was in Denver before our opener in September. The weather was perfect; the field was good. With the altitude in the Rocky Mountains, the ball jumps off your foot.

“The reality is a situation like that will come up once in a blue moon. But if you have that club in your bag, you never know when you’re going to need to use it.”

Tucker has converted a league-best 35 of 37 field goals this season, and his leg figures to prove vital in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots (10-4). Three of the past four games between the teams were decided by three points or fewer.

It has been a dizzying week for the kicker, who has converted 33 consecutive field goals, the fourth-longest streak in NFL history.

Tucker received several congratulatory texts from kicking peers, such as the Chicago Bears’ Robbie Gould thanking him for beating the Lions and keeping the Bears in the thick of the NFC North title mix.

“It’s been a little crazy — it’s been fun,” Tucker said. “To be able to share this journey with such a great group — the guys in this locker room, the coaches, everybody in this building has been a cool deal.”